TWI523512B - Integrated user interface for access to linear and non-linear multimedia content originating from multiple sources and method for implementation thereof - Google Patents

Description

Integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources and implementation method thereof

The present invention relates to a user interface for integrated access to linear multimedia content, such as terrestrial television channels, multi-cast, or data networks or internet transmissions transmitted over the ground, satellite or cable television. Instant streaming, and if required, non-linear multimedia content, such as Internet content and/or multimedia applications within a digital television receiving device, supports playback of multimedia content. In particular, the interface of the present invention allows a user to manipulate linear and non-linear multimedia content from multiple sources in a single form and in a transparent manner such that the non-linear content is presented in a manner similar to a television channel. Thereby, it is feasible for the user to access the multimedia content provided by the service and the provider of different network contents.

A digital television receiving device is a device that can receive and decode digital signals transmitted by different television broadcasters to present them on a screen. The device can be fixed (can be integrated into a TV set), portable or mobile. Now, such a device can already have the function of playing back non-linear multimedia content downloaded from the network connection, but the use of the content needs to be performed by the application, and the application is installed on the digital television receiving device before leaving the factory. Internally, it is then installed by the user or even transmitted by a digital television signal.

In today's digital television receivers, the user must first place an interactive environment of traditional television channels (linear multimedia content) and access another interactive environment to access non-linear multimedia content from the Internet. However, the above operations cause access to nonlinear content. Obstacles, because this approach is beneficial to the use of linear content from traditional digital video to facilitate the use of non-linear content from the Internet.

Patent No. WO1998056188 discloses a client and servo system for solving the above problems, which can provide an integrated solution for the content requested by the television and the network. In particular, the above patent describes a rotary menu that enables manipulation between a television channel and a web page by which content can be downloaded to the device via a connection via a server. However, this system displays the web page on the TV channel instead of just displaying the multimedia content, which causes the data on the network to behave the same as the content from the digital television signal.

In this case, the present invention provides a user interface that can manipulate linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources in a single menu and in a transparent manner such that the non-linear content is as if from a television channel. The way the content is presented.

For the purposes of the present invention, in the following description, it is necessary to first consider that a "digital television receiving device" can be any device capable of executing a digital file and can receive and decode transmitted by a terrestrial, satellite or cable television broadcaster. The digital TV signal is presented on a screen. The above devices may be fixed (can be integrated into a television set), portable or mobile.

"Linear Multimedia Content" can contain content that users cannot intervene or control over their processes. For example, when linear multimedia content is played in an uninterrupted manner, it includes, but is not limited to, television signals and online video.

"Nonlinear multimedia content" may include content that requires user intervention or control to achieve the process, ie, requires interactivity. For example, non-linear multimedia content includes, but is not limited to, hyperlinks, video games, online music, and requested audio and video.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, it provides a user interface that can access linear and non-linear multimedia content from multiple sources in a single menu and in a transparent manner such that the nonlinear content is Presented as content from a TV channel.

The above TV channels are treated as traditional TV channels, allowing the user to freely browse linear and non-linear channels using remotely controlled channel change buttons or manipulating arrows. in In the same way, the non-linear content channel can be quickly manipulated by the user as a bookmark, and the same function can be achieved by the traditional TV channel.

The integrated user interface of the present invention also enables a channel of a plurality of network content to have a standardized interface, which enables the channel to have a similar appearance to a conventional television channel, and brings some functions, such as continuous playback of network video and audio. , category selection, keyword search, and audio and video playback.

The integrated user interface of the present invention includes a digitally readable medium and an execution means. The digitally readable medium contains code which is stored in the read only memory of the television receiver and which may be part of the firmware of the television receiver. The execution of the code is to achieve integrated access to linear and non-linear multimedia content generated by multiple sources in a digital television receiving device, and the digital television receiving device supports playback of multimedia content. The means of execution can be presented in a digital television receiver and include a processor and a random access memory (RAM).

The integrated user interface of the present invention can provide at least the following functions: (a) discovering and adjusting digital television channels in a manual and/or automatic manner; (b) discovering and installing a slave network in a manual and/or automatic manner. The channel of the content produced.

In addition, the integrated user interface of the present invention can provide at least the following functions: (c) using a "channel on" and "under channel" buttons, steering arrows or other mechanisms on the remote control to aggregate digital television channels and networks. (i) viewing the content from the digital television channel in a linear manner; (e) viewing the content from the network channel in a linear (continuous) manner; (f) viewing the content from the network channel by a non-linear (request) method; optionally, the integrated user interface provides the following functions: (g) bookmarking the digital television channel; (h) pairing the network The channel of the road content is bookmarked; in addition, the integrated user interface of the present invention can provide at least the following functions: (i) searching by content of a channel having network content; (j) channel having network content Filter content by category selection; (l) look at the content of the audio and video being played on the channel with the web content; (m) remove the digital TV channel when needed; (n) remove the channel with the web content when needed; or The integrated user interface of the present invention can provide all of the above functions or any combination thereof.

The present invention also provides an implementation of the above user interface, and includes the following steps: (I) providing a digital readable medium containing a code, the program code is stored in a read-only memory in the television receiver and can be a television Part of the firmware of the receiver, and (II) means for providing code execution to achieve integrated access to linear and non-linear multimedia content generated by multiple sources in a digital television receiving device, digital television receiving device Support playback of multimedia content. The means of execution can be presented in a digital television receiver and include a processor and a random access memory (RAM).

10‧‧‧Digital TV Receiver

11‧‧‧Form

12 ‧ ‧ background

13‧‧‧+ channel

14‧‧‧ Full screen

15~19‧‧‧Video Zone

1 through 3 represent some of the possible presentations of the user interface of the present invention within a digital television receiver.

An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources and a method for implementing the same according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below, wherein the same elements will be referred to by the same reference. The symbols are explained.

Aspect of the embodiment

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 below and not to limit the present invention. The following aspects represent some of the possible presentations of the user interface of the present invention within a digital television receiving device.

The interface integrates linear and non-linear multimedia content from multiple sources and is shipped by the manufacturer to the memory of the digital television receiver 10 and used by the user to execute the channel. Call the button on the remote control of the switch. When called, the interface appears from a background 12 in the form of a form 11, which may be, but is not limited to, audio and video being played by a channel, a static or animated image file, or embedded in a receiver. One of the video files.

The main function of the form of Form 11 is to make access to different forms of channels efficient. These channels can be tuned from digital air signals to TV channels or network channels installed from a network connection. .

The patterns of these channels can be seen by the form 11 and arranged in one of the fast access areas of the digital television receiver 10. Among them, there are patterns corresponding to the television channels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) and corresponding to the network channels (7, 8, 9). For a form of channel, there is no limit to the number of patterns, and the form 11 can be rendered in a rotating manner, that is, when the form reaches the end, the next option will go to the first one.

When Form 11 is open, the user can change the channel by using the remote control button (usually to switch channels), or use the arrow on the remote control to move the control focus of the menu to the desired pattern (1~9) And press the confirm button "OK" on the remote control. The difference between the two modes of control is that the channel change is automatic when the channel switch button is used, and when the direction arrow is used, the channel switch occurs after the pattern of a certain channel is selected in a given time. Or it happens when you press the OK button on the remote control.

The last pattern of this form is always "+ channel" 13, which calls a setting screen to allow the user to go to a new TV channel or install a new network channel. If there is no selected TV channel or installed network channel, only the pattern "+ channel" 13 will be displayed on the form 11.

When a TV channel pattern (1~6) is selected, it is transferred to the channel. When the "INFO" button on the remote control is pressed, information about the content is displayed, such as channel name, program name, age rating, summary, or other information.

When the network channel (7~9) is selected, an interface is displayed which provides an experience as close as possible to the user watching a television channel. The video will start playing in full screen 14, and when it is over, the other video will immediately load, and so on. When the information "INFO" button on the remote control is pressed, relevant information is displayed, such as the name of the channel that announces the audio and video in a video zone 15 and the content in a video zone 16. However, the user can still access the content of the associated audio and video in a video zone 17 via the access function, select the category in a video zone 18, and search in a video zone 19 using keywords. All functions can be performed by pressing the color key on the remote control.

Accordingly, the user interface of the present invention can provide a single form integrating linear and non-linear channels in a digital television receiving device, allowing the user to access the content and network of the television channel via remote control and a simple channel switching. Quick control between the contents of the channel. Thereby, the adjustment of the linear channel is achievable, and the installation of the new non-linear channel can be quickly achieved via the same menu.

Thus, the skilled artisan will appreciate the user interface of the present invention, which provides integrated access to the multimedia content of the network and the content of the digital television signal, that is, the full screen seamless video playback from the network content service. . This simplifies and optimizes the user's use of the above content, wherein the multimedia content perspective is applied to linear content that can only be used in a non-linear manner in other devices. In addition, the user interface of the present invention also provides for the use of content on the network in a non-linear manner, if necessary (but not necessarily).

The above is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting. Any equivalent modifications or alterations to the spirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims.

10‧‧‧Digital TV Receiver

11‧‧‧Form

12 ‧ ‧ background

Claims (10)

An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources, including a digitally readable medium and an execution means, wherein the digitally readable medium contains code, and the code is stored in a The read-only memory in the digital television receiver can be part of the firmware of the digital television receiver, and the execution of the code is to achieve linearity and nonlinearity generated by multiple sources in the digital television receiver. Integrated access of multimedia content, the digital television receiver supports playback of multimedia content, the execution means is presented in a digital television receiver and includes a processor and a random access memory (RAM), wherein the integrated use The interface is embedded in the memory of the digital television receiver (10), and is called by the user by using a remote control button for performing channel switching to present a form (11) to an audio-visual background (12). The form (11) displays the pattern corresponding to the TV channel (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), and then displays the pattern of the corresponding network channel (7, 8, 9) and a "+ channel". Figure (13). An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in claim 1 of the patent application, which provides at least the following functions: (a) is discovered manually and/or automatically. Adjusting digital TV channels; (b) discovering and installing channels with content generated from the network in a manual and/or automatic manner; the above functions are performed in an integrated or consistent manner. The integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in claim 1 of the patent application provides at least the following functions: (c) using "on-channel" on remote control And "slow down" buttons, control arrows or other mechanisms for changing channels to control a single environment and/or list of digital TV channels and network channels; (d) viewing digital images in a linear manner Content from the TV channel; (e) viewing the content from the network channel in a linear (continuous) manner; (f) viewing the content from the network channel through a non-linear (request) method; The integrated user interface provides the following functions: (g) bookmarking digital TV channels; and (h) bookmarking channels with web content. Linear and non-linear multimedia generated from multiple sources, as described in claim 1 The integrated user interface of the content provides at least the following functions: (i) searching by content of a channel having web content; (j) filtering content by category selection in a channel having web content (l) looking at the content of the audio and video being played on the channel with the web content; (m) removing the digital TV channel when needed; (n) removing the channel with the web content when needed. An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in claim 1 of the patent application, which is provided in any one of claims 2 to 4 Features. An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in claim 1 wherein the form (11) is rotatable. An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, which is commonly used in digital television receivers. The remote control is operated. The integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in claim 1 of the patent application, wherein when any of the network channels (7-9) is selected, the media is Screen (14) to play, and display information, such as the name of the channel played in the audio and video of a video zone (15) and the content of a video zone (16), and access to a video via access function The content of the relevant audio and video of the area (17), and the selection of the category in a video zone (18), and the search using keywords in a video zone (19). An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in claim 8 is operated from remote control commonly used in digital television receiving devices. An integrated user interface for accessing linear and non-linear multimedia content generated from multiple sources as described in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 includes the following steps (I) provides a digitally readable medium containing code, the program code being stored in a read-only memory in the television receiver and being part of the firmware of the television receiver, and (II) providing code execution means for achieving integrated access to linear and non-linear multimedia content generated by multiple sources in a digital television receiving device, the digital television receiving device supporting playback of multimedia content, the means of execution Is presented in a digital television receiver and includes a processor and a random access memory (RAM); the execution means is via any of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 Accessed by the visual interface described in the item.